A Parentified 10-Year-Old Girl Was Asked To Take Care Of Her Special Needs Classmate During A School Trip, And The Poor Kid Breaks Because She Can’t Take It Anymore
Kids should be kids. They won't have another shot.
Taking care of a child with special needs is excruciating, and every parent needs help from time to time. Even when it's the only child in the family, it is hard, let alone when it has brothers and sisters.
One Redditor shared her story, and it is full of pride, joy, and sadness at the same time. She is a mother of four children, one of which has autism and ADHD.
This 6-year-old boy is a handful, but luckily OP and her husband have plenty of help from their eldest daughter. Now, she is only 10 and has a huge weight on her shoulders.
She helps her parents and takes care of her brother when needed. Her mom is very proud of her.
She is even prouder because her daughter is equally thoughtful in school, where she has a classmate with autism and anxiety disorder. Hardly surprising, OP's daughter became her favorite person in the class.
And that brought even more responsibilities for that little girl. She didn't want them, nor did she ask for them. Her only "sin" is that she is kind and thoughtful.
OP’s daughter was asked to take care of her classmate with special needs on a school trip. That broke the little girl’s heart because it was her chance to have a good time and none of the duties.
A mother of a child with special needs wanted her classmate to take care of her on a school trip. Her mother protected her daughter while also feeling guilty for doing so.
star5112 (not the actual photo)OP shares her story:
RedditShe has four kids, one of them with autism and ADHD
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And the oldest has to take care of him sometimes
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Since Izzy knows how to behave around kids with special needs, Maisy loves her
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The kids were supposed to go on a trip with their class and Izzy was guilt-tripped into sharing a room with Maisy
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Izzy first agreed, but later broke down
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This broke her mom’s heart
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Because she knows what Izzy is going through
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She is taking care of others, and she gets very little attention
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And OP feels very bad about it
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Izzy's teacher also believes she needs a break
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But Maisy's mom doesn't think so
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She asked OP to ask Izzy again. When OP said no, she was not happy
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And started to blame Izzy
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Izzy's dad agrees
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But OP is still burdened by guilt
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The Redditors, however, have no doubts., They all support Izzy 100%
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Izzy is not a support animal
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Izzy is just a child
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She doesn't need a break. That would imply it is her job or duty, and that she would have to return to it.
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People who have autistic children hire respite providers for these things
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The bottom line is:
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It’s so sad to see a parentified child. Izzy is deprived of many things.
She has to take care of her brother when her parents can’t, and when they are with her siblings, they don’t have any time for her. We have to say that this parentification is not really her parents’ fault.
Basically, if she wants to spend time with her brother (which she does), she has to take care of him. And one thing leads to another.
It is sad, but that’s just the way it is.
